Cleveland: Public, players debate of shooting probe

CLEVELAND -- The emotional debate over the investigation of November's Cleveland police chase and doubly deadly shooting incident played out with the public weighing during a debate on WCPN radio.

Many are clamoring for more answers from Mayor Frank Jackson and Police Chief Michael McGrath in the wake of the police union's call for McGrath to resign because members have lost confidence in his support.

But both are staying silent and both turned down Channel 3's requests for interviews.

The mayor's spokeperson Maureen Harper issued a statement saying, "Mayor Jackson is focused on completing the city's administrativereview of the November 29th incident and and maintaining the integrity and credibilty of that process. Therefore, he is not going to comment further."

On host Mike McIntyre's Sound of Ideas program, callers weighed in both for and against police.

One said, "I appreciated the job Cleveland police officers do...I'm very thankful they do a job I would never do."

But more were critical of the 62-carchase and crossfire shootout that left Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams dead.

Said one,"137 bullets..that's ridiculous."

Police Union President Jeff Follmer defended officers.

"They didn't come to work to go out and execute anybody...By the grace of God , none of us got shot," he said.

As for the call for Chief McGrath to step aside, he said, "We need a chief out there that remembers he was a police officer..."

Councilman Jeff Johnson criticized Mike DeWine for offering more than the facts including a conclusion that the incident could be blamed largely on a systemic failure of police command and communications.

"We don't need Mike DeWine coming in here telling us our systems failed and disrespecting our leaders by saying their heads are in the sand...He's out of his lane," Johnson said.

By phone , DeWine said, " My job is to tell the truth and put the facts out there. I don't know how anyone could read the report and not come to the same conclusion."

The debate will continue while a grand jury considers the facts and the city decides if any police or supervisors will be punished , suspended or fired for not following regulations.